Relaxed friendly communication
Scientists have found that horses communicate with each other using their ears and eyes. Unlike us, they can move their ears, which are one of the most expressive parts of the body.
They also recognize each other visually. The tail, legs, rich facial expressions, movements - all this is the main language of the horse. Horses make sounds when there is no sufficient response to actions, or during a period of extreme excitement.
Every part of the body speaks volumes
To express their emotions and communicate, horses use absolutely all parts of the body (ears, head, legs, tail, torso), as well as voice and smell. A horse that lives in natural conditions spends most of its time in the circle of its relatives, moving slowly and eating grass. Under these conditions, changes in posture are most informative for relatives, such as:
Changing the position of the head, neck, tail;
- change in body position;
- change in the position of the limbs.
A high head, a pulled back tail, tense muscles, active forward movement, and high jerky movements of the legs characterize activity, excitement, attention, or stress.
A lowered head, relaxed muscles, slow, smooth, as if lazy movements characterize passivity and relaxation, the absence of strong emotions, tension and stress. A relaxed horse's tail hangs calmly.
Horses at rest
However, hanging your head is not always a sign of relaxation and peace. The horse's head may be down, but if he keeps his neck tense, the muscles are not completely relaxed and the tail is held tightly. Then, together with a state of passivity and detachment, the horse may experience great tension, painful sensations, stress or, for example, discomfort from bad weather.
A tense neck does not always mean discomfort. Pulling it forward, making wave-like movements with it, the shoaling stallions (which have their own small “herd” of mares) gather those who have scattered into different sides females in a group (school). A pulled back tail means tension, excitement, and laid back ears show a threat towards disobedient mares, but stallions usually do not show real aggression towards them.
Leg position
The positions of a horse's limbs can also be very informative to his peers. Leg movements serve to communicate as an expression of crisis behavior. Everyone knows that a horse can kick with its hind leg, that is, kick. But in crisis situations, horses can do this not only with their hind legs, but also with their front legs.
Wanting to simply scare away the opponent without entering into open confrontation with him, the horse loudly stomps his front leg, thereby expressing protest and displeasure. Stomping is a formulation of the emotion of fear, irritation or misunderstanding, as well as the need to scare away. Vigorous movements of the tail from side to side indicate that something is bothering the horse.
Marking in place can also be an expression of the need for movement when it is impossible to accomplish it, for example, when a horse is tied. An expression of the need for active movement forward (as a replacement behavior), an expression of anxiety, and excitement is digging.
Invitation to communicate
This bad habit is developed when horses are kept in stables, if they spend most of their time in a stall, where they may simply be bored.
Motor activity is also expressive and informative for relatives: tension and sudden movements encourage the herd to run, and relaxation and leisurely movements have a calming effect. In such a situation, the rank of the animal is important - the position it occupies in the equine community. It is clear that while the foals are frolicking and running, the adults calmly graze without showing concern.
Bored poses
Facial expressions
The facial expressions of horses are as varied as those of humans. We often don’t notice this, because people are focused on communicating with each other, and after a long contact they begin to understand each other at a glance, “at first glance,” etc. Horses are specialists in social communication not only with each other friend, but also with other individuals. A person can also learn to understand a horse, but this requires attention and patience.
A horse whose attention is focused forward turns its ears and eyes in the direction of interest (in front of itself). Ears and eyes for a horse are the main sensory systems that deliver greatest number information about the surrounding world. IN
These systems are in their optimal position when the horse is looking forward.
Raising the neck and bending the head allows you to evaluate distant objects. Lowering and extending the neck serves to explore nearby objects. To examine an object lying on the ground, the horse lowers its head and neck down. There is often a noisy intake of air, the nostrils are wide open, and all olfactory stimuli from the environment are perceived.
The main indicator that a horse's attention is focused laterally is that the ears turn to the sides. The horse also looks to the side. In a relaxed state, such as when grazing, its sensory receptors are not focused on anything in particular and the horse appears indifferent. In fact, she is always on guard.
Possible danger. There's something there...
Moreover, a quiet rustle in the grass or bushes can frighten her much more than the loud noise of a helicopter engine in the sky, since horses are inhabitants of the plains, where predators attacked them from shelters on the ground. There were practically no animals attacking horses from above. And even though these times are almost behind us, genetic memory forces the horse to always be on guard. They can run away even from a slight rustle.
If a person works with a horse not on horseback, but “from the ground,” as horsemen say, practices new elements on the reins, “chases” on the cord, works on the cardeo, etc., the horse’s attention will also be directed to the side, to the “ teacher." And only if the animal listens, “sees” the person, and pays attention to him, is it possible to establish communication based on very subtle, almost imperceptible signals. Only in this case can you teach the horse something, but if he is distracted and looks around, then it is too early to teach him anything. First you need to get her attention.
When a rider works a horse while sitting in the saddle, the horse will sometimes point its ears and eyes back toward the rider. She often focuses her attention backwards when learning new elements with the rider.
But if the horse does not understand or doubts some commands given by the rider, then, without ceasing to look forward in the direction of movement, he turns his ears back, as if “listening” to the rider’s commands, even if they are given not with his voice, but with his hands, legs, moving the rider's center of gravity. The horse behaves in a similar way if some suspicious object is approaching it from behind.
Confused, unsure
The horse's expression of anxiety is accompanied by corresponding facial expressions. The horse's eyes are wide open, the ears twitch jerkily, the mouth is tense, the nostrils are dilated, the body is tense, the movements are convulsive, the animal's heartbeat and breathing quicken. The degree of anxiety can vary from a manifestation of wariness or uncertainty to real panic, when the horse may be covered in sweat.
Maximum degree of emotional stress
A horse's facial expressions will always tell a person what condition the pet is in. Animals, unlike people, never hide their emotions. The main thing is to learn to see.
A calm and confident horse (A) is relaxed, the facial muscles are not tense, the ears are directed forward or to the side, and the nostrils are not flared.
A horse that is under tension (B), unsure of its actions, not understanding what a person requires of it, experiencing discomfort (physical or psychological) moves its ears back, slightly pressing them (but not tightly) to the skull, facial muscles tense, nostrils dilate .
Anxiety (uncertainty) can be signaled by a horse's tail (C), which is hard in the rib area and pulled back.
A relaxed, confident animal has a tail that hangs calmly (D).
Often, when training, a horse experiences psychological discomfort. After all, any training is stressful, both for humans and animals.
A young horse often forgets to control his emotions when working
Also, it is very exciting for a horse to be close to other horses, “in a tight formation.” They feel uncomfortable and lack free space. Such animals feel constrained and squeezed, especially if there are horses nearby that occupy higher places in the hierarchy. After all, dissatisfaction on the part of higher-ranking individuals can result in direct aggression on their part, since horses are very sensitive to their position in the hierarchy.
Not willing to cooperate. I don't want to hear anything
It is interesting that it is not the older horses that are more aggressive towards beginners, but those who occupy the bottom of the hierarchical chain. This is due to the fact that a stranger can take their place, and then they will remain at the bottom of the hierarchy. And if you manage to attack first, there is a chance that the stranger will surrender, and it will be he who will take the lowest position. And the horse that was
lower in rank will be one step higher. The dominant (highest-ranking) horse usually calmly watches such battles. She will only intervene if there is a threat to her position in the community.
How to recognize aggression
Aggression is characterized by general tension in the muscles of the body, laying the ears back and pressing tightly to the skull. The eyes are alert, open, directed at the object that caused the aggression. The nostrils are usually widened, wrinkles form around them, and the mouth may be slightly open. When aggressive, the rib becomes stiff, the tail is pulled back and slightly raised. It is the tight pressing of the ears to the skull that distinguishes real aggression (E) from play (F).
E - Aggression
Even if a horse shows its teeth, threatening to bite, but does not press its ears tightly even the most tough fight will still remain for opponents only a game, a kind of training, a test of strength.
When communicating with a person, a horse acts according to the same scheme, without taking into account the difference in size, so even a “playful attack” of a horse on a person can lead to serious consequences for the latter’s health. Moreover, even gaming
Horses fighting each other can lead to injuries (these include bites, abrasions, consequences of blows from limbs, etc.).
Warning poses about a possible attack
Whether the threat of aggression remains just a threat or develops into reality depends on the situation. Usually, it is stallions who are in school who show real aggression towards each other in the fight for females. They stand “on candles” in the desire to appear taller and larger, to impress the enemy, to intimidate him; as a manifestation of dominance and self-confidence. Often stallions try to bite their opponent's legs in order to become taller than him. A mare with a foal can show aggression towards relatives and even humans, since her main duty at this moment is to protect her child from any danger, even imaginary. Mares during this period can be very suspicious.
Aggression can be not only offensive, but also defensive, both in relation to a relative and in relation to a person (for example, seating). At the same time, horses always know when to stop. Their advantage is also that they are not vindictive.
Despite the strict hierarchy, adult horses, both mares and stallions, are lenient towards the pranks of foals. Babies learn very quickly what can follow the threat of an adult horse. There is a special facial expression that signals to adults that there is a “child” in front of them. This is the so-called “clicking”. The foal extends its head, slightly opens its mouth, the corners of the mouth are pulled back, the jaws make a series of chewing movements, and a clicking or sucking sound is possible. The lips do not touch, and in some cases only the lower incisors are visible. And occasionally show
Horses that are already old enough and do not occupy a particularly high position in the community can behave this way to avoid conflict.
This facial expression works as a blocker of the opponent’s aggressive behavior. An adult horse can simply hang its ears to the sides, lowering its head down, as if decreasing in size. This is a kind of gesture of submission and recognition of the enemy's superiority.
Yawn and more...
When faced with an unusual, unfamiliar, interesting smell, the horse stretches its head as high as possible, the upper lip rises strongly, opening the upper incisors and gums, the eyes and ears rotate to the sides. Appears in the front of the eye
nictitating membrane. At the peak of the movement, the head takes an almost horizontal position. In less than a minute, the head returns to its normal position. However, this is not a smile at all, as we would like to think. This is called the Fleshman reaction or "flehmen" (Figure G).
The fact is that inside the horse’s nose there is a “Jacobson’s organ” that can detect odors even in the smallest concentrations. This same organ helps in assessing and recognizing smell. For example, stallions sniff very carefully if they suddenly detect the scent of a mare in estrus.
Horses, like humans, can yawn (Figure H). In this case, the position of the head relaxes, both in a standing and lying position, the mouth begins to open, and while lifting and extending the head, the horse takes a deep breath. She closes her eyes or closes them slightly as the yawn peaks. When the mouth is wide open, the lower jaw can make lateral movements from side to side. Relaxed ears move forward. When the yawn ends and exhalation follows.
Tactile sensations
Pleasure is also no stranger to horses. The skin is one of the horse's most sensitive sense organs. Such animals feel the smallest touches, for example, when an insect lands on it. Horses love touch and enjoy tactile sensations. Scratching is what you need for bliss.
This can be light touching or scratching with strong pressure. Many horses like to have different parts of their body scratched: behind the ears, along the withers, along the neck, along the back, etc. At the same time, the horse’s upper lip stretches and trembles, the ears are oriented sideways, can be slightly closer and directed upward, the head elongated and possibly turned to the side.
The horse leans on the object that stimulates it. She can scratch herself, for example, on a fence, or she can “ask” a fellow dog to scratch. At the same time, the horses stand close together and scratch each other with their teeth, starting from the withers. This “mutual grooming” is usually suggested by the youngest in rank, and the eldest completes the procedure. A person can also give a pet tactile pleasure.
How does a horse relax?
To rest peacefully, horses must feel absolutely safe. It is carried out in the herd by sentries who do not sleep or eat, but vigilantly monitor the surroundings. After some time, the guards are replaced by other horses. This way the surrounding area remains under surveillance at all times.
Not a pleasant taste
In a new place, the horse often does not go to bed, but only dozes. Such animals can doze either standing or lying on their chest. The neck drops horizontally, the eyes are half-closed, the ears relax, take a side position and stop moving, the lower lip protrudes. It is believed that the deep sleep phase occurs only when the horse lies on its side. Therefore, when keeping stables, it is very important that the size of the stall is sufficient for the animal to lie freely on its side with its legs stretched out to the sides. Only then will she be able to truly get some sleep.
Since in the modern world the horse is entirely dependent on humans for its existence, our first responsibility is to provide it with the most comfortable living conditions. Moreover, comfort by horse standards can differ markedly from comfort in human terms.
Give me lunch, treat me
Except proper nutrition A horse needs a lot of light, sun, air and especially communication with other horses. These are social animals and for their physical and psychological health, contact with each other is much more necessary than
with a person. A horse communicates with people as it would communicate with another horse. And in the horse community, hierarchy plays a huge role. Authority gives security, and hierarchy prevents confusion. Absolutely equal relations with
with a horse as with a partner is not possible. A person must be a leader in these relationships. And for a relationship to be productive, trust is necessary, which is based on understanding and “feeling” each other.
Invitation to the game. "Let's play"
Horses are good observers; they have long learned to “read” human body language. To speak the same language, you need to learn to understand this animal. With the help of developed body language, a horse will always show us what emotions he is experiencing. You just need to show patience and attention.
Elena Gromova
“And how,” says Aunt Doctor, “does the dog say?”
“Aw-aw,” says the child.
- And the cat?
- Meow.
- And the horse?
- FRRRR!
- Wrong! - says aunt doctor. And already to me:
- Your child is not quite developed for his age. The horse says “Yoke-go!”
And I tell her:
- Auntie is a doctor, and when are you last time Have you seen a live horse? Here we are the day before yesterday. And I’ll be honest: she said “FFRRR!” in front of us ten times. and never once said “Igo-go!” Maybe this is an underdeveloped horse?
Inspired by the story about An-2
"Kukuruznik" is not some kind of Boeing. This is a real workhorse and
taxis and trucks, and he transported so many people... Around the region, how
was seen in that story, he was the only one flying. 100% safety in this
I was convinced in '82. As a student, I was constantly hanging around with my friends
along the mountains and rivers, summer and winter. In general, it was a hiking experience. And in the summer
On the 82nd we decided to walk around Lake Baikal. 6 people (4 guys + 2 girls).
A sea of memories. And the last real steamship in the USSR, "Komsomolets",
who walked from south to north once a week, and the cleanest water in the lake,
which you can drink simply from the shore, and the village of Davsha (the center of Barguzi
reserve), and the colorful captains of the boats on which they gave us a lift
a bottle of vodka to any place as by taxi, and the Shirelda river on which
graylings were caught directly on an empty hook, and much more
remembered with great nostalgia.
Well, okay, this is a lyrical digression, so to speak.
The most important thing was remembered in the air. Everything is in order. The boat was thrown into
Severobaikalsk, from there we got to Nizhneangarsk to the steamer, which
must go south. By the way, we were traveling by train along a newly opened line
real BAM. We missed the boat on time for literally several hours.
We were very upset. The hike is over, it's time to go home, and the ship is only
week. Then someone told us that we could catch up with him if
fly to Davsha by plane and meet him there. There was no surprise
limit. Is there an airport here??? They showed me how to get there. Found. Hefty
a drowned field and at the edge a small shed in which there was
dispatcher, cashier, etc. all rolled into one. There is only one flight to Ulan-Udu
with landing in Davshe. What time is the flight, we ask? As soon as it gets ready
less than 8 people, otherwise it’s not profitable. There are 6 of us, what should we do? What does the cashier need?
she grinned, called someone and said, wait half an hour. AND
indeed, after 40 minutes. Two grannies with backpacks approach. How
Later it turned out that they had been waiting for 2 days for a flight to Ulan-Ude to visit relatives. A
We helped them so much! Okay, let's take tickets (two of us went on a hike without
passports but they were still sold tickets) we are waiting to board. In about 15 minutes
The cashier invites you. They say there is such and such a board on the edge and into it
load up. We threw our backpacks on and walked towards the plane (just like
parachutists). On this trip I was in the role of a convoy operator, I was always on
hung a Quartz 8 mm camera. Later we watched these footage and cried to everyone
composition. We loaded into the "Kukuruznik" and are waiting for the pilots. Pilots too
They turned out to be extraordinary people with a sense of humor. Their first words immediately
alerted. "Well, the dead ones, let's fly!" Stas, coming out of his stupor,
asked. Like, commander, is it possible to fly not directly through Baikal, but
along the coast, They say I want to see from the air the places where recently
passed. “No problem,” answered the commander. They started up and flew...
The door to the pilot's cabin did not close, as if we were doing the work of professionals
saw it firsthand. We dialed the desired height, and then to our eyes - BEAUTIFUL!
On the right side there is a lake, on the left there is a shore and mountains, amazing! With screams
"Look!!!" we ran from one porthole to another, from left to
to the right and back. When 6 people rock a small plane, it's
very noticeable. The pilots were really silent, gloomily looking at us through
open door. This vottonalia ended with a sound escaping from
fire extinguisher mountings. The sound was loud and scary. So until the end
During the flight we sat quietly and quietly. But of course the pilots took revenge on us for this
in your own way, adding more adrenaline. Approaching landing, flying past two
hill (what a beauty! just like in the movies) commander
turned off the engine! Through the open door one could see stopped blades
screw That's how we sat down on a low level flight. No we didn't applaud like
now they show it in films, we just stood there in silence and couldn’t move
from the spot. Only after the pilots opened the door and allowed them to fall out,
they fell half-bent onto mother earth, where they immediately saw fresh
bear tracks. The strip is made of dirt, but the bears in the reserve are not afraid.
The next day we boarded the ship and 4 days later we were already home. A AN-2
has always remained an exceptional aircraft for me all my life!
Andi_x
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and the treatment of companion animals. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. Works at the same animal clinic in his hometown more than 20 years.
Number of sources used in this article: . You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.
Have you ever wondered what a horse is trying to communicate to you or another horse? Horses use body language and sounds to communicate with people and other horses. For the right training a horse To achieve favorable results, you will need to thoroughly study the horse's habits and body language. By learning to understand your horse's behavior and signals, you can develop a stronger connection with your horse and improve your relationship.
Steps
Interpretation of ear, eye and facial movements
Look at your horse's eyes. Watch your horse's eyes to see how he is feeling (whether he is anxious or lethargic). Remember that a horse's field of vision is different from a human's. Horses have a panoramic perception of their surroundings (like a panoramic camera). Since in wildlife The horse is a prey animal, it is extremely important for them to have a wide angle view of the environment. Horses may also have poor depth perception, preventing them from correctly judging the depth of water sources. What is a shallow puddle for a person may seem like a bottomless pit for a horse.
Pay attention to the position of your horse's ears. Different ear positions allow horses to pick up different sounds from their environment and also show how they relate to what is happening around them. Horses can move both ears simultaneously or separately.
Learn to interpret your horse's facial expressions. Horses can change their facial expressions in response to external stimuli. Often, changes in facial expressions are accompanied by changes in body language.
Interpretation of leg movements, posture and vocal cues
Pay attention to what the horse does with its legs. The position of the horse's front and rear pairs of legs depends on its mood. Horses are capable of causing serious injury with their legs, so for your own safety it is a good idea to find out what the horse is trying to tell you.
Take a look at your horse's overall posture. You can understand a horse's emotional state by looking at the way it moves and stands. For example, if the horse's back is raised, this may indicate pain caused by prolonged wearing of the saddle.
Listen to the sounds your horse makes. Horses are capable of making wide range sounds as a means of communication. Interpreting these sounds will help you better understand what your horse is trying to communicate to you or other horses.
Interpretation of head, neck and tail movements
Pay attention to the position of the horse's head. Similar to other parts of the body, the position of a horse's head will change depending on its mood. The position of the head indicates the mood of the horse.
Notice the movement of the tail. Sometimes a horse waves its tail not only to ward off flies and other insects. Although the natural position of a horse's tail varies depending on its breed, certain positions are common to all breeds.
Pay attention to the position and appearance of the horse's neck. Different neck positions can indicate that the horse is tense, relaxed, and so on. By understanding these neck positions, you will be able to better understand your horse's body language.
Interpretation of sounds made by horses.
Like most other animals, horses do not make specific sounds that convey one specific idea, but they certainly use vocal noises to indicate general ideas or emotions. I'll start with the lower sounds you're likely to hear from your horse and move up to the more intense ones, giving you clues to help you figure out what the horse is trying to "tell" you or his stable or herd friends.
Sigh
Horses pant (inhale deeply and then release the air slowly and loudly through their nostrils) much more often in the presence of people than when interacting with each other. Some sighs seem to express relief(like our human “Ewww!” when we take off our tight boots at the end of the day). You may hear them when you brush, rub, or massage your horse to relieve tension in his muscles.
Horses make sighs relaxation- they can be heard when you, for example, work on the line in order to relax the horse or make sure that he is calm before starting work under the saddle. The horse tilts its head forward and down, exhaling deeply and noisily through its nostrils, often several times (“Yes, I feel better now”).
Some horses also make sighs that are colored boredom when monotonous repetitive work in a circle tires her mentally. It's the equine equivalent of our "awww" moment when we're stuck in a long line at the supermarket. This is a request to change monotonous work, diversify it, find some new exercise, etc.
Moan
As with people, moaning can be a habit, but it can also signal pain, so each moan requires an “investigation”, especially if you are communicating with a horse that is unfamiliar to you and do not know what noises and in what situations are normal for him.
If a horse moans or grunts over obstacles but still seems happy and well, he is probably making sounds like a tennis player shouting "ooh!" with every hit of the racket. But if she groans when she lands, or folds her ears back or rolls her eyes, this is a sign that something is hurting her. Possibly the back (the horse resists when putting on the saddle or tightening the girth, his hindquarters are restless, he tails, does he react poorly when you sit in the saddle?), legs or hooves (check them daily to see if they are warm, pay attention to the horse's position in the state). rest, if it eases the front - this may be a sign of laminitis), internal organs(possible adhesion from past abdominal surgery, if you don't know the horse's history, check to see if he has scars from incisions on the belly or groin).
If the horse groans only under certain riders, then perhaps falling heavily into the saddle after a jump or during a practice trot is causing him pain.
If a horse habitually groans when defecating, but otherwise appears quite normal and happy, the groan may be caused by the simple involuntary movement of air through it. vocal cords when she uses the diaphragm in the process of defecation or as a response to normal abdominal discomfort/relief. But if a horse suddenly begins to moan during defecation, especially when straining, and the manure is dry and hard, this is already a signal for concern! Control your water consumption; Listen to the horse from both sides, placing your ear to his sides - are his bowel sounds normal? Check your pulse and heart rate.
Test your horse for dehydration using the pinch test: pinch and release a patch of skin on his neck - if he is not dehydrated, the skin should flatten out in less than two seconds. Check her gums too.
Moans made by a horse when not under saddle may be a sign of stomach pain caused by an ulcer. Recent studies have shown that at least 60% of tournament horses have ulcers. If your horse moans or shows other signs of an ulcer, ask your veterinarian for an endoscopic examination.
Some horses groan when they know the job is finished. Absent any symptoms of the problems described above, they are probably just waiting for you to unsaddle them and put them in a stall where they can lie around, snack, and defecate in peace.
Googling
By making this soft sound, your horse is using his vocal cords but keeping his lips closed. Usually (though not always) combined with an excited expression, head raised and ears pointed at you this is one of the signs of greeting (“Hello! It’s good that you are here! Chat with me!”). The affectionate hooting of a mare to her foal has the same meaning.
If your appearance at a certain time usually means a quick meal, then humming is the sound of happy anticipation. If other horses get their food first, your horse's hoots will likely become louder and higher pitched ("What about me? Feed me!").
Horses may also hoot in anticipation of a bad event if they feel backed into a corner and believe that something is threatening them. (“Ooh, this doesn’t look good, what should I do?”). This sound, combined with a panicked posture - trembling, laid back ears, rocking back and forth, bulging eyes - is a signal that you need to remove the source of panic and calm the horse with a gentle voice, scratching, etc.
Snort
When your horse inhales quickly and then exhales through his nostrils, making a loud, vibrating sound, he is excited or expecting something to happen. For example, she may see that you are picking up her halter, and the time is such that it would be time for her to go for a walk in the levada (“Great! We are going out for a walk!”).
By making this sound, the horse actually makes himself (and others) more aroused. So if she continues to snort and raise her head and tail high when you take her out, be prepared for sudden movements and jerking. Remind her that you are still in control by making calm stops or walking her in a small circle before opening the gate. Otherwise, the horse may try to escape, especially if friends are waiting for it in the levada and offering to play.
On a forest trail, your horse may begin to snort if you approach the area where you usually gallop, or if a cold wind blows on his tail. She tells you: “I want to jump!” Her snorting will “infect” other horses that move near you, so be careful.
Neighing
When your horse neighs, he is already excited, and (even if he is usually phlegmatic) you will need to pay extra attention to the situation when you are interacting with him, grooming him or riding him.
This sound can communicate either anxiety or confidence, depending on the tone and body language that accompanies the whinny. A horse that rushes restlessly in front of the levada fence is obviously walking alone and waiting for its comrades - it will neigh in a high, trembling voice. A horse that neighs in alarm may sweat and defecate frequently. Her ears will move back and forth; eyes - protrude, tail - rise and fall. She may tuck her tail completely to make herself look smaller.
Confident neighing is accompanied by cheerful appearance with erect ears, bold eyes and a slightly raised tail.
Neighing during feeding is a stronger demand than hooting (“Come here now and feed me!”).
When one horse in a group neighs, it can be a signal for everyone's attention - a strange horse is approaching or an unusual, interesting object has appeared in the field of view.
We humans are definitely a more social species than horses, but horses are good listeners when it comes to the meaning of certain signals and sounds. They certainly understand our language better than we understand theirs.
Linda Aronson; translation
